NORTHAMPTON — Following the killing and hostage-taking of Israeli citizens by the Islamic nationalist group Hamas and the formal declaration of war by Israel against the organization in response, several local politicians and organizations around Northampton have responded to the violence that has erupted in the Middle East.
“I am holding our Jewish community in Northampton and beyond in my heart,” said Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra in a statement posted on the city’s Facebook page on Sunday. “I strongly condemn this vicious act of terrorism, mourn the loss of innocent life and urge the swift and safe return of all the hostages.”
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who has an office in Northampton, also condemned the attacks by Hamas on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I am horrified by the news coming out of Israel. I strongly condemn these vicious terror attacks. There is never an excuse for such despicable violence,” McGovern wrote on Saturday. “I am praying for the innocent Israelis & Palestinians who have been caught in the crossfire.”
Jake Marmer, head of school at Lander Grinspoon Academy, a school providing Jewish-inspired education, sent out a letter to parents on Monday discussing the recent events unfolding in Israel, where he noted many students at the academy have family ties.
“This is a dark, heavy moment, and, like everyone else, I am mostly lost for words, with grief for the losses, and with worry for my family and friends, and for innocent civilians on both sides of the border,” Marmer wrote. “Many of us parents here in the U.S. have the luxury of being able to mostly avoid talking about war. And, while, certainly, this is everyone’s own parenting decision, I do think that it is important to find our way into difficult conversations.”
The Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts put out a statement by its parent organization, the Jewish Federation of North America, affirming its support of Israel during this time. The western Massachusetts chapter also held gatherings in Northampton, Amherst and Springfield on Monday to show solidarity with Israel.
“Once again, the brave military forces of the State of Israel are responding and will defend our beloved Jewish state. And once again the Jewish communities of North America stand in total and complete solidarity with our Israeli brethren,” the federation stated.
Nora Gorenstein, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, likened the events in Israel to the war in Ukraine, but that for many Jewish Americans it felt much more personal.
“I’ve never seen anything on this level, of this degree of response and the amount of need in this situation,” she said in an interview. “Personally, I’m feeling both overwhelmed by everything that’s happening and also in some ways bolstered by our community coming together.”
Gorenstein also said the federation was helping to raise funds to purchase for Magen David Adom, the Israeli version of the Red Cross, as a show of support.
Other activist groups in the area said while they did not support the actions of Hamas, the attacks needed to be placed in greater context of the conditions of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.
Massachusetts Peace Action, which held a rally in Northampton on Monday, said in a statement that while it condemned the use of violence against Israelis, the violence was an unsurprising result of Israeli policy toward Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
“The new Israeli government has rapidly expanded illegal settlements, turned a blind eye to settler violence, bulldozed houses and forced the expulsion of many more Palestinians from their homes,” the organization stated. “Palestinian resistance should surprise no one.”
Merrim Ansara, a member of MAPA from Easthampton, compared the situation of Palestinians to that of Native Americans in the United States.
“I don’t favor violence. But the reality is that you push anybody hard enough, they’re going to push back,” she said. “But what is shocking the world right now is that Palestinians were able to push back in an organized way.”
Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.
